Opposition Senator Wade Mark is accusing Independent Senator Anthony Vieira of being “sanctimonious” and “petty” for going to the media first about his complaint about the Opposition’s conduct during the October 21 motion to impeach the President.
On Tuesday, Vieira brought a motion to discuss the unparliamentary conduct of the Opposition senators during that debate.
Mark said that by going to the media first, Vieira entered the “political gayelle”.
“That to our minds is conduct that is unbecoming of a Senator,” Mark said.
Mark said that during his contribution, Vieira said that he received calls and support from ambassadors, judges and MP’s.
“And the question that has to be asked: Who are these judges in the Court of Appeal that the Senator spoke about in his contribution? Why did the Senator choose to bring members of the Court of Appeal into our debate today? Mark asked.
Mark said that since Vieira brought them in, he should now name those judges.
“What the member is saying is that Appeal Court judges, by implication and innuendo are involved in the politics against the Opposition. That is the conclusion that one could draw,” Mark said.
At this point, he was warned by President of the House Christine Kangaloo to better confine himself to the tenets of the Standing Orders.
“When you bring ambassadors into the picture, into the arena, the Honourable Senator would need to identify who are these Ambassadors that consulted with him and supported his call against the Opposition,” he said.
Vieira then called a point of order to clarify that the ambassadors he referred to were simply concerned about what happened during the electoral college vote.
But Mark was adamant that they be named saying that Vieira sought to use their titles to add weight to his “frivolous” motion.
Mark said Vieira also mentioned Members of Parliament contacted him and expressed their disgust over what happened during the electoral college vote and again Mark called for those MP’s to be identified.
“Can Senator Vieira, in an effort to ensure that there is transparency and openness in this whole exercise, say who were these MP’s who contacted Senator Vieira?” Mark asked
Mark asked whether they were elected MP’s.
“We represent, combined, over 309,000 citizens in this country, I don’t know how much Senator Vieira represents. All I know is that he was appointed by Her Excellency,” he said to desk thumping.
Mark said that the very structure of the Constitution was being challenged by Vieira’s motion.
He said the purpose of the Independent bench was to bring balance, sobriety and proper reflection to debates and legislation brought to the House.
“You deal with the public interest. That is what is supposed to guide these nine individuals, not to come at the Opposition members,” Mark said.